Rights Violations in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, a country governed by religious law, continually violates its population's basic human rights on a daily basis. Many of the state's actions are often justified as being done in the name of religion. The state has banned public protests, severely restricts citizens' right to freedom of expression, and systematically denies women even the most basic rights -- such as being able to drive. Authorities are known to excessively employ the death penalty and torture detainees as a form punishment; government critics are also often arbitrarily detained and punished. Trials have been questionable, especially in light of the country's nontransparent legal system. Members of the country's Shia minority community often face discrimination, with migrant workers often facing abuse.